Strategic Talent Partners

Strategic Talent Partners is honored to once again be ranked the #3 largest executive search firm in the Twin Cities by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ)! At STP, we view executive search as part of a broader talent strategy. The right hire matters, but so does understanding how each leadership decision supports the future of the business. We partner with privately held companies to help align their leadership talent with their growth goals, strengthen their teams, and build long-term business value through their people. Whether the need involves hiring a key executive, preparing for succession, developing future leaders, or building a Strategic Talent Roadmap™, our goal is to help organizations make confident people decisions that support what comes next. We’re grateful for this recognition and for the clients, partners, and team members who continue to make this work so meaningful. View the full Business Journal list here: https://lnkd.in/gjG2eH2R Learn more about our Executive Search services: https://lnkd.in/gnz6cKy9

Most business owners and leaders understand the financial and operational levers that drive company value. But while metrics such as revenue growth, margin improvement, customer retention, and cash conversion certainly matter, those numbers alone do not tell the full story. In our latest blog post, STP Sales and Marketing Director Andrew Kuderer highlights another critical driver of business value that is often overlooked: talent strategy. For small to mid-sized businesses, key person dependency is one of the clearest ways talent strategy affects long-term value. When too much knowledge, decision-making, or leadership capacity sits with one individual, the business becomes harder to scale, harder to transition, and more vulnerable in the eyes of buyers and investors. Andrew explores how an intentional talent strategy can reduce that risk by strengthening the leadership bench, creating continuity, and showing that the business is positioned for sustainable growth. The takeaway is simple: your people are not just part of the business. They are a force multiplier for the value you are working hard to build. Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/gTwzWsk7

The VIP•MN Summer Mixer is only one week away, and we’re looking forward to an energizing evening with leaders from across Minnesota’s flourishing EOS® community. Next Tuesday, June 2, Strategic Talent Partners will join Authentic® and the LIFT Integrator Community™ at Bridgewater Bank’s second-floor Event Center in St. Louis Park for an exclusive gathering of Visionaries, Integrators, Implementers, and EOS®-aligned executives. With a curated guest list, open-house format, and hosted food and drinks, this event is designed to create space for meaningful conversations, peer-level connection, and relationship building among executives focused on strengthening and growing their organizations. If you lead a company running on, or considering, EOS®, we hope you’ll join us. Space is limited and filling quickly — secure your spot today: https://lnkd.in/gu3WjSfC

Less than one week to go! Next Tuesday, May 26 at 11:30 AM CT, STP Principal Todd Johnson will lead a live, members-only webinar hosted by The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO): “Aligning People Strategy with ESOP Growth: Building the Leadership and Culture to Scale.” During this session, Todd will share how employee-owned companies can take a proactive approach to people strategy by building a talent roadmap that clarifies future roles, identifies priority hires, and ensures leadership capabilities are aligned with long-term business goals. The conversation will offer practical guidance for ESOP leaders looking to stay ahead of growth, reduce bottlenecks, and build the leadership capacity needed to scale sustainably while preserving a strong ownership culture. We’re looking forward to another valuable discussion with the NCEO community. If you’re a member and haven’t yet registered, there’s still time to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/gcwbaerX 

When growth accelerates, new opportunities often come with new challenges for the people leading the business. For New Line Skateparks, several years of rapid growth highlighted the need for more structure, clearer roles and responsibilities, and stronger support for managers and next-level leaders across the organization. That’s where Strategic Talent Partners came in. We were proud to work alongside their team, supporting a comprehensive approach that included leadership assessment, management training, employee engagement strategies, talent pipeline evaluation, and key leader onboarding. Together, this work helped strengthen leadership effectiveness, build stronger connections across teams, and create more capacity for continued growth. Thank you to Kendra D., Director of HR, for sharing this thoughtful testimonial - and to the entire New Line Skateparks team for trusting us to be part of your growth journey. Read the full client success story here: https://lnkd.in/gN4N_fKx

Last week’s Manufacturers Connect event, “Navigating the Choppy Waters: Lessons from the Leaders,” brought a dynamic group of Minnesota manufacturing owners and executives together for a timely discussion on the challenges shaping the industry today. At the center of the event was a panel discussion featuring three accomplished local manufacturing business owners representing different industries, company sizes, and business models. While each panelist brought a unique perspective, they shared a common focus: navigating complexity with creativity, resilience, and strong leadership. Throughout the discussion, attendees heard real-world insights on workforce and talent development, building the right leadership team, strengthening culture, adapting product strategies to meet changing customer needs, and managing supplier demands and pricing pressures. As a founding member of Manufacturers Connect, STP is proud to contribute to creating this valuable environment for owners and leaders in the manufacturing space. We always appreciate the opportunity to be part of conversations that help leaders successfully adapt, grow, and lead through change. Thank you to panelists Anne HED, Christine Lantinen, and Zach Goldberg for sharing such thoughtful and practical takeaways with everyone in attendance. We look forward to seeing the Manufacturers Connect community come together again this fall for another meaningful discussion. Stay tuned for more details!

Strategic Talent Partners was proud to take part in The ESOP Association’s 2026 National Conference last week in Washington, D.C. Our Co-Founder Mike Frommelt and Principal Bill Frommelt had the opportunity to speak alongside fellow ESOP leaders and advisors, contributing to important conversations around board governance, leadership transition, and the future of employee-owned companies. Mike joined John Williams, President/Founder of Elucidate Resources LLC, for “Who Should Be on Your Board of Directors,” a session focused on helping ESOP companies understand the roles and responsibilities of the board, determine the right mix of internal and external members, and approach the recruiting and selection process with the company’s long-term needs in mind. Bill presented alongside Kathleen McInerney Kane, President of Praxis Consulting Group, Inc., on “Supporting Leadership Transitions Within Your Organization,” an interactive discussion on how ESOPs can identify leadership potential, support the growth of future leaders, and strengthen the skills, values, and behaviors needed to lead the company forward. We were grateful to participate in such a valuable week of learning, connection, and conversation with leaders from across the employee ownership community. To learn more about how STP partners with employee-owned companies, visit: https://lnkd.in/eFVdt9kk

Strategic Talent Partners is proud to be a sponsoring partner of the upcoming VIP•MN Summer Mixer, hosted by Authentic® and the LIFT Integrator Community™. Join us on Tuesday, June 2 from 4:30–6:30 PM at Bridgewater Bank’s second-floor Event Center in St. Louis Park for an exclusive gathering designed for Visionaries, Integrators, Implementers, and top executives exploring EOS®. This in-person event will bring together leaders from across Minnesota’s thriving EOS® community to build relationships, exchange ideas, and celebrate the entrepreneurial energy driving growth across our region. If you're a #1 or #2 executive at a company running on - or considering - EOS®, we hope to see you there. Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/gu3WjSfC

In a recent episode of the Leadership Matters podcast hosted by The Bailey Group, STP Co-Founder Mike Frommelt joined host Kaylee Thomsen for a conversation about leadership, core values, and what it takes to build a strong organization through its people.   In this clip, Mike shares how STP approaches our work with clients. As a Talent Strategy firm, we are not simply focused on solving one hiring need, but on understanding where a company is trying to go and helping build the leadership capacity needed to get there.   That work can take many forms. It may involve finding the right leader for a critical role, developing the leaders already in the business, strengthening alignment around core values, or clarifying the leadership structure needed for the next stage of growth.    Across each of these areas, the goal is the same: connecting talent strategy to business strategy so leaders can make more intentional decisions that support sustainable growth and build long-term value.   To learn more about how Strategic Talent Partners helps privately held companies achieve their goals through their people, visit: https://lnkd.in/gaUNHqNM    Watch the full podcast episode here: https://lnkd.in/gw7WRhbA

Today, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible moms of STP. We’re grateful for the patience, adaptability, resilience, and care they bring to their families, their work, and the people around them. The way they guide, support, encourage, and create space for others to grow makes a meaningful impact in so many areas of life. To the mothers on our team and throughout our client, candidate, and community networks: thank you for the example you set and the difference you make every day. Happy belated Mother’s Day from all of us at Strategic Talent Partners!